Bell-ringing mechanism



(No Model.)

' J. H. STRAIN.

' BELL RINGING MECHANISM. No. 565,306.- Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

EI% f WITNESSES: INVENTOR Madwi% BY 1% i ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. STRAIN, OF GENTRYVILLE, INDIANA.

BELL-RINGING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 565,306, dated August4, 1896.

Application filed March 25, 1896. Serial No. 584,827. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. STRAIN, of Gentryville, in the county ofSpencer and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tower-Bells, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tower orbelfry bell for use on churches, schools, factories, fire-houses, &c.,and arranged to prevent undue strain on the belfry, tower, or likestructure on which the bell is supported, and to insure a proper andfull sounding of the bell without injuring the building by jarring, asis so frequently the case when bells of ordinary construction aresounded.

The invention consists principally of a bell secured to the belfry,tower, or like support, and a mechanism of special construction forimparting a swinging motion to the clapper of the bell.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, andthen pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement, and Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the same.

The bellAis rigidly secured at its top to a belfry, tower, or likesupport B, as illustrated in the drawings, and on the under side of theclapper O for said bell is formed an eye 0, connected with the ends ofchains D D, extending in opposite directions and connected at theirouter links with the ends E E respectively, of a curved arm E, attachedat or near its middle to a transversely-extending shaft F, j ournaled insuitable bearings G, attached to the support B. The end E of the arm Eis weighted, so as to normally hold said arm E in the position shown inFig. 1, and the other shaft E of said arm is connected with a rope H forimparting a swinging motion to the arm E to actuate the clapper 0, so asto sound the bell A.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangethe bell alternately on oppositesides.

ment described the bellAis rigidly supported in the tower, belfry, orlike support, and a swinging motion is given to the clapper C by theoperator pulling and releasing the rope H, so that the said clapperstrikes and SOliIldS t is understood that when the rope H is released bythe operator the weighted end E draws the arm E into its normalposition, (shown in Fig. 1,) and when the rope H is pulled a swingingmotion is given to said arm E in the direction of the arrow at, to movethe clapper O in contact with the bell on the left side thereof. Byimparting this swinging motion to the arm E the chains D D becomealternately taut and slack, to move the clapper G to the left and right,as above explained, so as to sound the bell.

By the construction described no undue strain is exerted on the supportof the bell or the building containing the bell, as the latter remainsstationary instead of swinging, as is the case with ordinary bells nowconstructed. It will further be seen that by the arrangement describedthe clapper 0, after striking and sounding the bell, instantly leavesthe inner surface of the bell, so that the nudesirable jarring sound sofrequently heard when bells of ordinary construction are sounded isentirely avoided, as the clapper does not remain in contact with thesides of the bell for any length of time.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent-- 1. A device of the class described,comprising a bell rigidly secured to a belfry, tower or like support, arocking arm attached at or near its middle to a shaft and at its endsconnected to a bell-clapper, said shaft being journaled in bearingsattached to said support and means as described, for imparting motion tosaid rocking arm, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a belfry, tower or likesupport, a bell rigidly secured at its top to said support,a curved armmounted to swing and under the control of the operator, and a chainconnection be tween the ends of said curved arm and the clapper of thebell, as set forth.

3. A device of the class described, c01nprising a belfry, tower or likesupport, a bell rigidly secured at its top to said support, a curved armweighted 011 one end and connected at its ends with the clapper of thebell, a rope connected with the arm at the end opposite the Weightedend, and a shaft carrying said arm and mounted to turn in suit-ablebearings, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN II. STRAIN.

Vitncsses:

A. H. INMAN, W. H. DAVIDSON.

